11th Lesson

Consider these two quotes commonly attributed to Socrates. He concluded that: "... nobody knew anything, and that he was only wiser than others because he was the only person who recognized his own ignorance". Also: "The unexamined life is not worth living."

So what do YOU know? Are you certain of your facts? Or any they simply based upon what you have heard or read from another source? Have you 'examined' your own ability to perceive what is and is not potentially true? Nothing is certain in this life, especially when the knowledge you receive may be from source which could be promoting a corrupt agenda.

A revised, interpreted and simplified quote from the Bible states simply that: "You should consider everything, but believe nothing." Also consider that all forms of extremism are based on the inflexible faiths and beliefs of those who cannot accept arguments that oppose their own. So go through life with a completely open mind. Never discount anything until you have taken some time to consider whatever proposition is put to you. Remember that it is only the arrogant and egotistical that do not obey this rule.

12th Lesson

What value intelligence? You can have your IQ tested and assessed. You do not need to be well-educated, you just need the ability to understand and solve questions that rely upon logic, and not general knowledge. The latter does not require any special ability, beyond that of possessing a good memory. This is why some people you meet may not seem very well informed, and you discount their opinions accordingly. But get to know them and understand they may have the ability to rationalise in a far better way than yourself. And as I stated in my previous lesson, even an educated mind is of little worth if it has been 'programmed' with the wrong information. The old computer science term for this is: "Garbage in, garbage out."

13th Lesson

"If you go back really not that long ago, as I say, we owned the news. We were the gatekeepers, and we very much owned the facts as well." And: "If it said it in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, then that was a fact.” - Emma Tucker, editor-in-chief of The Wall Street Journal, January 18th, 2024.

The 'mainstream media'. Many like to pick up a newspaper sometimes. Turn on the TV, listen to the radio. Follow the news on the internet. But how reliable is the information they publish? How certain can you be about what you see, read and hear? Mostly, reporters are not hamstrung and can report the truth. But there times when the truth is stretched, bent, and even dishonest.

"Never let the truth get in the way of a good story". - Commonly attributed to Mark Twain.

It depends upon the issues being discussed. Some people like to read of scandals. Perversely, that is 'entertainment' for them, and something they will gossip about to anyone who will listen. But the biggest crime occurs in the arena of politics. Whatever is happening in this world, and if it is of importance to the establishment, then the facts can become twisted, distorted, and even turned upside down. This is why the establishment likes news media. They can assert enough influence to ensure that only the narratives they approve of will be published. Of course, when the real truth is known about some event, and the news media tells you the opposite, then they go into 'overdrive' and tell you that anyone who disagrees with them is either pushing misinformation, or disinformation. They do not like it when they are found out for their lies, and they will vigorously attack anyone who threatens their version of events.

"The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth, to lie outright, to pervert, to vilify, to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread." - 'Labor's Untold Story', by Richard O. Boyer and Herbert M. Morais, published by United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America, NY, 1955/1979.

14th Lesson

Angles, perceptions ... and the police.

Many years ago, I attended a number of presentations at my local college. Two of these concerned the subject of perception. The first focussed on one's angle of vision, something that can assert a strong influence upon what one witnesses. The second concerned rational analysis.

The first presentation showed that by standing in two completely different places, but observing the same incident, you could draw two completely different conclusions as to what was really happening. This emphasises the importance of always getting a second opinion, and not jump to conclusions because of what you alone have seen.

The second presentation concerned a story of someone who was accused of attempted robbery in a shop. A number of statements were made and we had to decide what could be proved, and what was not reliable. This took place in three stages. First, the sudents had to decide alone if the alleged culprit was guilty. Then we were paired off and asked to reassess again our opinions. Finally, we were put into groups of four. Each time I was dubious as to the claim that the man who seemed to be a thief, was in fact not guilty at all. As each stage of examination, and as each statement was again considered, it became more obvious that the accused was innocent. Of all the statements considered, I seem to recall only one could not be determined. But we were told at the end of our test that the accused WAS innocent of all charges.

Finally, we were told the same test was previously given to a group of senior police officers. But they all assumed the man was guilty. This is because the police tend to go by instinct, and if they think someone is guilty in the first instance, they will not let go of that prejudice. Even when presented with the outcome, some still doubted the man's innocence. I have personally seen this with some police officers I have known and encountered. They are stubborn to the point of destroying their own credibility by adopting such an attitude.

15th Lesson

Who rules over us? To put it simply, criminals and idiots. As time passes by it becomes more evident that the quality of those who make our laws is in severe decline.

The sad thing is this: the warning signs have always been there, and yet these wretched people keep getting elected. I speak from experience of having to deal with those in different positions of power and authority, wherever that may be. In fact, I have found the more powerful they are, the more stupid they are. This just goes to prove that it is not what you know, it is what you say that matters.

I would urge you to trust my analysis. It has never failed me in all the years I have experienced the incompetence of the elite. The even greater tragedy is that nothing will change. Nowhere near enough people care enough to change this state of affairs. They are too easily brainwashed and cannot see beyond their loyalties to one cause, regardless of the quality of those they think represent them. Look at the governments in the West. Those that place their first loyalty to our American cousins are some of the worst. Look at the British parliament (and not just the government). The House of Commons is littered with trash. The worst of all is the prevailing government, which has held onto power for so long, have an arrogant disregard for the voters. And the alternatives? A sad bunch of losers.

But the most alarming thought is that in America, it is likely that the next Presidential election will be fought once again by two people you wouldn't trust to open a can of beans. One is arrogant beyond belief and thinks he is some kind of god. The other has shown clear signs of dementia, is approving of some types of sexual deprivation, and has been recorded as speaking to dead people as though they were still alive. I mean, seriously? Yes, seriously.

All of this adds up to the world being a very dangerous place to live in. There is no escape to another country if the one you live in right now is a threat to you or your well-being. There is no hiding places left to escape too. You will just have to accept what is coming to you and make the best of it. That is the harsh truth, and one which is totally unavoidable.

16th Lesson

Pleasing everyone can be very difficult. The more people you have to appease, the more likely some will not be satisfied with their lot. But even on a greater scale, where whole populations are divided, common sense fails to prevail at times. Hidden agendas, stubbornness and pride, arrogance and conceit, these are just some of the sins that manifest themselves when two warring parties cannot compromise. Sometimes division can be easily resolved, but it requires some degree of maturity and desire to sue for peace. So wars are fought because of the shortcomings of those who are too belligerent to see beyond their own short-sighted and delusional ambitions. The current conflict in Ukraine is but one example, though a classical one at that. It demonstrates how those in power are quite happy to send their legions into battle - but always, or course, at no real cost to themselves as they stay well behind the front lines.

Intelligent resolutions are unacceptable to these people because they are not directly threatened by their enemy. The only danger is when they are waging war on someone else's behalf, and they are fearful of upsetting those who bankroll them. This is what is happening in Ukraine - they are fighting a 'proxy war' on behalf of America. Having said this, America is not the only culprit here. I am not taking about other countries who have put their weight behind the corrupt Ukrainian cause, I am talking about those who hide in plain sight, but also lurk in dark places. They never want to please anyone, just themselves and their sinister cause.

So, come tomorrow morning, ask yourself this: do I want my boiled eggs served sunny side up, or sunny side down? The novel 'Gulliver's Travels' can teach you a lot about the human race and trying to please everyone, or in this case, two opposing factions.

17th Lesson

Don't shoot the messenger. Example: Klaus Schwab is someone who can divide the crowd. And when he does, it's with noticeable impact. But who and what is Klaus? Some see him as a tool of the New World Order, and a dystopian one at that. But while he may have some roots deeply embedded in contaminated soil, if does not mean we should condemn him for what he says. Klaus tells it like how he perceives it will be, and probably how some dark forces are determined it will be. So should we pay close attention to his predictions, and at least respect that he is just being honest?

If you possess any common sense, then the answer is an obvious 'yes'. For example, if a doctor tells you that you have terminal cancer and that you do not have much time left before you die, do you shoot the doctor?

Over time, there is one thing we should all observe. This is that most ordinary people will prefer comforting lies over uncomfortable truths. This is also a natural reaction to anything which nobody likes. Maybe a forthcoming ordeal which one naturally reacts too with fear and trepidation. But when the only other remaining option has a far worse outcome, what choice do you have?

"Those who know the truth are not equal to those who love it". - Confucius.

So, whatever you may think of Klaus, don't shoot the messenger. He may tell you something you do not like, but what he does say could serve you well in the future. Ignore him at your own peril.

18th Lesson (Humanism: Part 1)

Idealism. Most of us want to live in an ideal world. No war, no disease, no hunger or thirst, etc. But that is never going to happen while humanity remains divided along so many fault lines. Even with evolution, can we ever expect to create a Utopian society? There are those, who live within the confines of their own delusions, who think they can make our world a better place to live in. But while there is opposition, this is a fruitless exercise. Yes, some of our politicians talk about uniting all of us under one common cause, but what exactly is that cause? There is far too much evil in this world that does not wish for anything decent to flourish - and this will continue to be the 'state of play' - if you allow it to overwhelm you.

The only options open to you? Make the best of what you have. If it is not enough, if it is causing you distress, than do what you can to change it. Do not expect others to help you if you will not help yourself. Do not wait for opportunities to become available to you, create them yourself. There is a significant degree of satisfaction in knowing that any future success you may have has been because of your own endeavours. So while your world will still not be perfect, it will be a lot better that the one you have arrived from. And if we all think this way, maybe, just maybe, we can build a better world for everyone, and not just ourselves. This may be optimism, and the challenges that we have to overcome may seem insurmountable, but not making any effort at all is not going to help anyone, including yourself.

"Idealism is a concept rich in intention, but will always remain the poor relative of reality." - Christopher Silverthorne.

19th Lesson (Humanism: Part 2)

How much character do you possess? How much strength can you summon up? Do you know your limits? When adversity strikes, it can punch hard, and sometimes 'below the belt'.

I personally have been there a few times. It doesn't get any easier to deal with. You feel as though your soul has gone 'AWOL', and that the world around you has nothing to offer to help you redeem your self-worth. The future looks dark, you lack emotional energy, and you feel completely deflated. It will be like that for as long as you allow it to affect you. So how do you recover?

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step". This is a translation from a quotation contained in Chapter 64 of the Dao De Jing, and ascribed to Laozi. Another expression which is commonly used is that you have to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps". This means self-help. Both of these lessons describe your situation perfectly. The journey begins by understanding that you will reach your destination, or at least get as far away as possible from your current position and be in a much better place over the course of time.

Now those first steps are not easy to make. You will be carrying the burden of sorrow for some time to come. But as you move further forward, you can shake it off little by little. Of course, the velocity of your actions will determine how quickly you can travel. Eventually, you grow to be stronger than you have ever been. They say the best lessons you can learn are the hardest ones, and when such adversity does strike, they will be the most brutal ones at that. So do not allow yourself to think your world has fallen completely apart. It just means that you need to change your environment and make that 'journey of a thousand miles'.

Did I complete my journeys (both of them)? Yes, and yes again, the outcomes will make you stronger. The only ones who fail are those who wallow in self-pity. Do you really want to be known for your lack of self-respect? So accept that life will be dreadful for a short time, but do not allow it to destroy you. You are better than this, and you will, I promise, emerge as a new person with new energy, ambition and a desire to make your life more meaningful than it has ever been before. However! I should add that this will not change the world around you. But it will mean that it will change the world within you.

20th Lesson (Humanism: Part 3)

How 'green' do you want your world to be? Are you ready to adapt? Ready to sacrifice a little so that a better, cleaner and safer environment can be achieved?

There is a current trend, in some countries at least, to pledge a greener and cleaner future. But everything comes at a cost - which can be evaluated in two different ways. The first is the commitment made by government which has to be funded by the taxpayer. This is an obligation from which there is no escape. However! Ask yourself how much can I do to lessen the impact upon my bank balance?

There is a type 'Stepford' mentality that exists in the Western world. In this world, compliant citizens are locked into a condition where one's home and environment has to fit into a certain pattern. Nicely trimmed lawns, flowerbeds, observing a certain standard of community ideals, etc. Essentially, a well-kept home, garden, and a social standing that obeys long-held principles. But! What if you decide to set new standards, or even adopt an 'off-grid' lifestyle? In the famous BBC comedy, 'The Good Life', a couple ('Tom' and 'Barbara') decide upon the latter. Their neighbours, who have been their friends for such a long time, are initially horrified, and are aghast at what they are witnessing. But think more carefully about this scenario. Should we all be adopting a more self-sufficient lifestyle and not keep expecting the State to provide everything for us, and dictating how they would like us to live?

Some governments are helping their populations to diversify in different ways, though the traditional lifestyle of the beneficiaries remains quite static. Double-glazed windows, wall and roof insulation, solar panels, and other 'bits-and-bobs', are all promoted and at least partly sponsored in an attempt to improve our homes. But what if we said that all news homes that are built should already have all of these things before they are sold (or let)? What if we say that each house should have a pre-prepared organic garden for growing food? Who says that houses should be either bungalows or the conventional two-up, two-down style? What about 'Earth Houses', where insulation is natural and not artificially manufactured?

Humanity needs to change it's concept of living and embrace measures that will enhance the quality of lives, not be brainwashed into thinking there is only one acceptable standard which we should all live by. Food for thought? Time to throw away some of your poisonous chemicals that keep pests off your plants. Throw away as many of the materials as you can that are not essential to your quality of life. Embrace the real world, and stop abusing Mother Earth ("Gaia") with your 'synthetic' lifestyle.

NB. 'Stepford' (as in the original movie, "The Stepford Wives").